My friend Pat Jordan has an essay on growing old in the latest issue of Men’s Journal:
You get old, you lose your anger. It takes too much energy to be angry when you’re old. You have more important things to do with your waning energy, so you hoard it like a dwindling resource.
You get old, it’s not always about you. You no longer wait for an opening in a conversation to talk about yourself, your dreams, your accomplishments. It becomes second nature to draw other people into talking about their lives. You’re no longer the life of the party, making people laugh. You no longer have that neurotic compulsion to be known. Why should you? You get old, you know yourself.
The photo above comes from John Loomis’ blog.
Good read, but Pat Jordan isn't old. Don Hewitt was old. He died today at 86. I saw a shot of him shuffling into Cronkite's memorial service a few weeks ago. He didn't look like himself.
Pat Jordan isn't old. Not 60 Minutes old. Writing-wise, he still has plenty of life, and movement on his fastball. He still smokes cigars and lifts weights. That's not old man stuff.
Such a well-mastered article. Like one of those cut-outs Matisse did towards the end of his life. Seemed so simple you just knew it had to be hard.
There is a reason why most violent crimes are committed by younger people.
I always thought that. Anger takes too much energy. And those I would be angry with generally aren't worth all that energy. Though I gotta say I don't get angry with family & friends anyhow.
interesting article.
i like his line at the end of the block quote - "you get old, you know yourself"
i would add you have to basically like yourself (in not a totally egomaniac kind of way).
the article is written from the point of view of someone who is basically at peace with how his 68 years (and still going well) on earth has been.
because though many, if not most, people lose anger as they get older, many become extremely bitter. which i think to avoid you have to be okay with yourself and your life.
[5] Your post reminds me of Erik Erikson's 8th stage: Integrity vs. Despair.
Nice.